How did the slaveholding gentry dominate eighteenth-century virginia politics?

The southern slaves had a high rate of natural increase. Masters in the South preferred the black slaves as they served for lifetime with no right of being free.

The slave-holding gentry dominated the eighteenth century Virginia politics as requirements of voting favored the wealthy only.

AD (anno Domini) and BC (before Christ) are used to label the years in the Julian and Gregorian calendars.